Variety (September 1908)

TEN C E NTS VOL. XII., NO. 3. SEPTEMBER 26, 1908. PRICE TEN CENTS. MARTIN BECK, SOLE HEAD OF WESTERN ASSOCIATION The Orpheum's Circuit General Manager Takes Charge of all Bookings. John J. Murdock Retires. Chicago, Sept. 24. The announcement has been made that the deliberations of the prominent West- ern Vaudeville Association managers, who were in session for the first three days of this week, have resulted in Martin Beck, general manager of the Orpheum Circuit, taking sole charge of all the bookings, giving him command of the largest booking agency in the woild. Thirty-four first-class vaudeville thea- tres, including the Orpheums, are attached to the W. V. A., all located west of Cin- cinnati, while the agency supplies an im- mense number of smaller theatres through- out the West. The principal headquarters hereafter will be in New York City, all acts for the large time being arranged for there. The ascension of Mr. Beck to the supreme control of the W. V. A. was brought about by the retirement of John J. Mur- dock as its general manager. The un- settled state of vaudeville during the past two years has divided Mr. Murdock's time between New York and Chicago. With the large theatrical interests in one combination, Mr. Murdock submitted to the W. V. A. managers a request to be relieved. This was granted. At the meeting here were present M. Meyerfeld, Jr., C. E. Kohl, Geo. Castle, Geo. Middleton, M. C. Anderson, H. M. Ziegler, J. J. Murdock and Martin Beck. In addition to the Orpheum theatres, Mr. Beck will now direct the bookings for the first-class Majestic and Hay market, Chicago; American and Columbia, St. Louis; Majestic, Milwaukee; Grand Opera House, Indianapolis; Columbia, Cincin- nati ; Mary Anderson, Louisville, also houses in Grand Rapids and Des Moines. MURDOCK TAKES OLYMPIC. Chicago, Sept. 24. The Board of Directors in meeting this week voted to accept the proposition of John J. Murdock, one of the board, to take over the Olympic, this city, which did not prosper as a vaudeville theatre last season. Mr. Murdock will take immediate pos- session, conducting the Olympic as a music hall, with smoking permitted, the policy under his management being simi- lar to that pursued by Mr. Murdock in his successful direction of the Masonic Temple. Mr. Murdock purchased the interests in the property, it is understood, and will remodel it. While Mr. Murdock has retired from active participation in the bookings for the Western Vaudeville Association, he will still give some attention to the Chicago end, which has been neglected through his many visits to New York of late. MANAGER MIDDLETON ENGAGED. Chicago, Sept. 24. Geo. B. Middleton of Tate & Middleton, the St. Louis managers, is engaged to be married to Mrs. H. W. Overman. The marriage will occur soon. WOULD LIKE KYRLE BELLEW. The New York vaudeville managers would like to see Kyrie Bellew tread their boards, but they can't "see" Mr. Bellew for $7,000 weekly, said to be the variety price of the late star of "The Thief." The show has gone forth to the wilds. Mr. Bellew remains on the Big Alley, and some agents have had the temerity to suggest the meagre pittance of $1,500, but immediately apologized when they noticed the sun commence to set. DAISY LLOYD COMING BACK. Daisy (Lloyd) Wood returns to Eng- land in December, having contracted to appear again on the Morris time next season. HOOTED "SALOME" OFF STAGE. "Salome" was hooted off the stage at Yonkers on Tuesday evening. It occurred at Blaney's Theatre there, where Mile. Froelich was the "Salome" of the William Morris production. Yonkers has never been visited by a naked dancer before, and when the craze hit the village, the'boys who assemble in the gallery prepared for a good time. It culminated Tuesday evening. Froe- lich could not proceed. She retired from the platform and the bill; also the Morris Circuit probably, as it is understood she cancelled all future engagements. The Morris office attributed the out- burst to "opposition," and the "opposition" said it was just "natural." Business at Blaney's increased three-fold over the same days last week while the dancer stayed. "SALOME" SLAPPED AGAIN. St. Louis, Sept. 24. ' Well, the St. Louis papers have handed our "Salome" a hard little slap. "The Follies of 1907," the Jos. M. Gaites purchased property from Flo Ziegfeld, Jr., stopped at the Century this week with Mile. La Millas operating as the girl who doesn't care what she wears or where she wears it. Dispatches poured in from New York that Mr. Ziegfeld disclaimed all connec- tion with the production, but that did not affect the attendance. St. Louis seems to like the show, ex- cepting "Salome." That's fallen a mile, and those "notices"! La Millas is still rubbing the sting out of the spots. 150 HOUSES BAR "SALOME." Hamilton, O., Sept. 24. John E. McCartney, manager of the Grand here and President of the National Vaudeville Managers' Association, has is- sued an order barring all "Salome" dancers from the circuit. The Association is com- posed of about 150 small houses in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Mr. McCartney condemns the dance as being against the higher aims of vaudeville. The order seems to meet with the approval of the local patrons of variety, and managers in other cities report that they are satisfied not to play the dance. BELLECLAIRE BROS/ BIG HIT. (Special Cable to Vabiett.) London, Sept. 24. Belleclaire Brothers, the American "strong" act, opened at the Coliseum on Monday, and scored one of the biggest hits of the season. They are likely to become the fad over here. GOULD AND SURATT SEPARATE. Sometimes a press story comes true, and this has happened with William Gould * and Valeska Suratt. This week Mist Su- ratt signed with Flo Ziegfeld, Jr., for ins Anna Held show, which will probably open in New York at the Broadway, play- ing a few weeks out of town prior to that engagement. Miss Suratt will present her "Three Weeks" dance in the Held production, and it is said she and Miss Held will also give • the "Apache" dance. These were intended as numbers for the Gould and Suratt new vaudeville act, booked for Hammerstein's during November. Mr. Gould will proceed with that act, securing another partner if Miss Suratt does not return. r 1 ) V t COURTLEIGH FILLS IN. William Courtleigh and Co. in "Peaches* will fill in vacancies on the Morris bills occasioned by the desertion of Howard and Barrison. Mr. Courtleigh may remain in vaudeville but a short time, having a legitimate engagement under consideration. "Peaches" will appear at the Lincoln Square Monday. MOZART TIED UP. Binghamton, Sept. 24. Edward Mozart's Bijou in this city is tied up in the courts. An agreement per- mitting prize fights to l>e held in the theatre was contested bv Mozart, who just recently came into possession of the house. He claimed all rights of a lessor, and denied knowledge of any previous pro- vision interfering with him. The prize fight promoters threw the matter into court win-re it is at present. Until settled, tin- l'ijou will remain closed. Tf Mozart receives the derision, vaudeville will be resumed.